Avocados Recalled in Six States over Concerns of Listeria Contamination

A California avocado distributor announced Saturday that it would voluntarily recall its California-grown avocados in six states over concerns the fruits had been affected by listeria contamination.

The distribution company, Henry Avocado, said in a statement Saturday that the recall was instituted “out of an abundance of caution” after a routine inspection of the company’s California packing facility found that some environmental samples at the facility tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes.

No reported illnesses have been connected to the recall as of Sunday, but the recall affects avocados distributed to six states— including Arizona, California, Wisconsin, Florida, North Carolina, and New Hampshire.

“We are voluntarily recalling our products and taking every action possible to ensure the safety of consumers who eat our avocados,” Phil Henry, president of Henry Avocado, said.

Henry Avocado said that products shipped from the company’s California facility have the potential to be recalled, but its imported avocados from Mexico are safe for consumption.

The company is advising consumers to look out for avocados labeled “Bravocado,” “organic,” and “California,” as those fruits are the ones affected by the voluntary recall.

All customers are urged not to consume the recalled avocados and are encouraged to discard or return the affected products to the store for a refund.

Henry Avocado is also encouraging consumers to call them with any questions at (760) 745-6632, Ext 132.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause fatal infections in young children, the elderly, and in adults with compromised immune systems, according to a fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC states that a person can be sickened by listeria between one and four weeks after eating contaminated food.

Affected individuals could experience symptoms such as fever, confusion, headache, muscle aches, stiff neck, convulsions, and loss of balance.

Henry Avocado is not the first company to issue a recall of its products over listeria contamination concerns.

Blue Bell Creameries had to issue a recall of its ice cream products containing chocolate chip cookie dough in 2016 over fears the cookie dough ingredients had been contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.